Coldplay Adapts Performances So Hard-Of-Hearing Can Experience Music Too
By Alexa Heah, 07 Jul 2022
While most of us think seeing our favorite artists perform live may be the experience of a lifetime, the event may not be as welcoming for fans with disabilities, such as those who are hard-of-hearing.
To make live concerts more inclusive for others, British band Coldplay has come up with new ways of incorporating accessibility elements, including the use of sign language interpreters, light shows, and technology, into their audience experience.
Jonny Buckland, the group’s guitarist, told CBS Mornings the main aim of the initiative was to cultivate a “feeling of togetherness” during the live events.
One special concession being offered on the band’s current tour is a device known as SUBPAC, which functions as a wearable audio system that allows fans who struggling with their hearing to feel the waves of the bass through vibrations.
Furthermore, as per Coldplay’s official site, fans can request sensory bags, sensory refuge stations, and even touch tours (for blind guests) at every stop on the tour.
“Please also write to this email address with any other suggestions to make the tour more accessible,” wrote Coldplay in a heartening post detailing the new accessibility measures.
[via CBS News and iHeart, cover image via Andre Ricardo | Dreamstime.com]